BNP on Sunday alleged that the ruling party men captured most polling stations and stuffed the ballot boxes with fake votes in 46 upazilas out 91 during the 4th phase of the local body polls. “As per the information we’ve gathered, the ruling party men grabbed most of the voting centres in 46 upazilas forcing out the agents of the opposition-backed candidates. They stuffed the ballot boxes with fake votes and attacked voters,” said BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. He came up with the allegations at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office while briefing reporters after the end of the voting. Describing the incidents of violence and irregularities during the polls, the BNP leader said Awami League ‘cadres’ swooped on the polling stations like wolf and snatched votes. “Their main aim is to grab the upazila chairman posts by force.” According the BNP leader, the most-violence hit upazilas are Barisal’s Agoiljhara, Banaripara and Ujirpur, Chittagong’s Rangunia, Raujan, Fatikchhari, Anwara and Bashkhali, Moulvibazar Sadar, Sylhet Sadar, and Kanaigaht, Comilla’s Barura, Munshiganj’s Gazaria, Brahmanbaria’s Nasirnagar, Akhaura, Jessore’s Sadar, and Keshabpur, Feni’s Fulgazi and Sonagajz, Khulna’s Batiaghata, Dacope, Fultala, Terokhada, and Rupsha, Barguna’s Betagi, Rajshahi’s Baghmara, Jhalakati’s Sadar, Nalchati, Rajapur, and Kathalia, Bagerhat’s Mollarhat, Gazipur’s Kaliakoir, Narail’s Sadar, Pabna’s Iswardi, Chaudanga’s Jibonnagar, Bhola’s Tajumuddin, Manpura, and Doulatkhan, Tangail’s Bhuapur, and Nagpur, Patuakhali’s Sadar, and Baufal, Pirojpur’s Mothbarai, and Dhaka’s Dhamrai. The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party men with the help of the law enforcers unleashed violence attacking their rivals and blocking voters. “The upazila polls can’t change the government. Despite that the government stanched votes to establish its supremacy. The upazila polls have exposed again what type of national election could have been held had BNP joined polls under the current regime,” he added. Rizvi thinks there is no alternative to ousting the Awami League regime to restore democracy and the rule of law in the country. – UNB
Prime Minister’s adviser HT Imam on Sunday claimed that the fourth phase of the upazila polls were held in a more peaceful and fairer manner than the previous three phases. “The Election Commission has tackled the law-and-order situation with an iron hand. We congratulate them for their endeavour,” he said while addressing a press conference at Awami League president Sheikh Hasina’s political office at Dhanmondi in the city. HT Imam, also an advisory council member of the ruling Awami League, claimed that no mentionable incident of violence took place during the voting on Sunday. Addressing the reporters present at the press conference, he said “You had said violence took place in the third phase polls. But see how fairly the Election Commission is discharging its duties despite the absence of the Chief Election Commissioner.” The PM’s adviser also said the law enforcement agencies took prompt action whenever they saw any clashes and violence. In reply to a query as to whether Army was given judicial power, Imam said they haven’t been given judicial power rather power to arrest. – UNB
